Decorative light storage device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a decorative light storage device [ 1000 ]. Decorative light sets [ 100 ], such as icicle lights, have a transverse strand [ 110 ] with multiple, hanging vertical strands [ 120 ] of varying lengths. The present invention [ 1000 ] provides an economical compact and easy to use storage device. The light storage device [ 1000 ] incorporates a panel [ 1110 ] having an upper row [ 1130 ] and a lower row [ 1140 ] of protrusions [ 1131, 1141 ] creating a transverse track  1190  between them. It also includes securing devices [ 1120 ] arranged vertically to create vertical tracks [ 1160 ] between them. The transverse strands [ 110 ] are wrapped around panel [ 1110 ] in the transverse track [ 1190 ] allowing the vertical strands [ 120 ] to fall into the vertical tracks [ 1160 ] and be held by securing devices [ 1120 ]. Several storage devices may be held in tracks of an enclosure [ 1400 ] to facilitate easy storage.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application 60/847,346 filed Sep. 26, 2007 (the “ParentApplication”) by the same inventor, Joseph Andrews. The ParentApplication is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in itsentirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a decorative light storage device, andmore specifically to an economical decorative light storage device.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Decorative lights, such as icicle lights are comprised of strands ofelectric lights used to decorate homes, public buildings, commercialbuildings and Christmas trees typically during the Christmas season.Typically these lights are comprised of both a transverse main strandand perpendicular hanging vertical strands of electric lights thatsimulate hanging, glistening icicles. The hanging strands typically havevarying lengths to make them more realistic. When these lights are notin use, they must be stored. Storage of these lights is often fraughtwith broken bulbs, broken sockets, torn strands and tangled strands,which make it time consuming and costly to reuse.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,323 discloses a Christmas tree light storage deviceconsisting of one or more discs each with a plurality of radiallyoriented slots around the outside circumference thereof which disc ordiscs are concentrically mounted on a central cylinder wherein lightsockets are mounted sequentially over the slots with the cable to andfrom the sockets passing through the slots and being wrapped around thecentral cylinder.

This is directing to storing only a continuous set of lights on a singlestrand. It does not address the problem of storing strands having atransverse strand with multiple vertical hanging strands.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,067 describes a Christmas light organizer whichprovides a frame for the handling and storage of strings of Christmaslights.

Again this is directed to single stranded sets of lights and does notfunction well with the decorative icicle lights having multiple strands.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,953 describes a Christmas light wrapping apparatuscomprising wrapping trays with indentations for keeping the lightstrings separated and a base with a crankshaft for turning the trays,thereby winding the Christmas light strings.

This is based on the idea of reeling in a rope on a reel. Again it doesnot address the problem of storing lights having multiple strands inother directions.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,816,407, 5,941,388, 6,237,769, 6,431,489 and6,823,993 all disclose systems for storage of Christmas lightsconstructed of single strands and do not address the storage of thegeometry of the decorative icicle lights described above.

Currently, there is a need for a decorative light storage system thatallows for easily winding, unwinding and storage of decorative lightshaving a multiple strand construction when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is a decorative light storagedevice for the storage of lights having a transverse strand and aplurality of vertical strands comprising:

-   -   a) A panel 1110 having a top portion 1111 and a bottom portion        1115;    -   b) A transverse track 1190 encircling panel 1110 near the top        portion 1111 for receiving the transverse strand 110;    -   c) A plurality of vertical tracks 1160 for receiving the        vertical strands 120;    -   d) At least one securing device 1120 in the vertical track 1160        functioning to secure the vertical light strands in the vertical        track 1160 to the panel 1110.

The present invention may also be embodied employing verticallyextending recesses 1260 in place of the vertical tracks 1160 which arelarger and deeper nearer to the top portion 1111 of panel 1110 andgradually decrease in size and depth as they approach the bottom portion1115 of panel 1110.

Finally, the present invention may be embodied as multiple panels 1110held in an enclosure 1400 for storage in a parallel formation by aplurality of vertical rails 1410.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for thestorage of decorative lights having multiple strands when not in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for thestorage of decorative lights having multiple strands that preventstangling.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for thestorage of decorative lights having multiple strands that allows for theuser to easily wind up or collect the decorative lights when not in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for thestorage of decorative lights having multiple strands that allows for theuser to easily unwind the decorative lights when needed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for thestorage of decorative lights having multiple strands that is easilymanageable by one single user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for thestorage of decorative lights having multiple strands that requires asmall amount of storage space.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for thestorage of decorative lights having multiple strands that is easy touse.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for thestorage of decorative lights having multiple strands that is compactwhen stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of the instant disclosure will become more apparent whenread with the specification and the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the general structure of decorative lightsknown as icicle lights composed of multiple strands.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the decorativelight storage system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 along thelines marked “VII” in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present inventionhaving several storage devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain decorative lights used to decorate homes, public buildings,commercial buildings and Christmas trees during the Christmas seasonemploy multiple strands of lights. Typically these lights are comprisedof both a transverse main strand as well as multiple vertical hangingstrands of electric lights so as to provide an aesthetic glimeringicicle effect.

During the off season or the time when not in use, these lights must bestored. As result of their configuration, storage of said lights becomesdifficult and the lights become tangled. Storage of said lights is oftenfraught with broken bulbs, broken sockets, torn strands and tangledstrands, which makes it time consuming and costly to reuse.

The present invention alleviates the above problems by offering anapparatus which provides a simple and aesthetic means for storing theselights.

In the following figures and throughout this specification, like partsare given like numbers.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the general structure of decorative lightsknown as icicle lights composed of multiple strands. A typicaldecorative icicle light set 100 has a transverse strand 110 which haselectric plugs 113, 115 to connect to other strands. Transverse strand110 may also include lights 111.

Transverse strand 110 also includes junctions 117 where vertical strands120 of varying lengths hang downward. Vertical strands 120 include anumber of lights 121. As stated above, this odd geometry makes storage aproblem.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the decorativelight storage system according to the present invention. A panel 1110,which may be a board, has a top portion 1111 and a bottom portion 1115.

Panel 1110 includes an upper row 1130 of protrusions 1131 extending fromthe top portion 1111 of panel 1110.

Panel 1110 also includes a lower row 1140 of protrusions 1141. Theregion between the upper row 1130 and lower row 1140 creates atransverse track 1190.

The transverse strand 110 of the light set 100 is wrapped aroundtransverse track 1190. Here, and throughout the figures, all parts oflight set 100 are shown in thick dashed lines.

By the nature of the geometry, the vertical strands 120 with lights 121hang downward between holes 1121, referred to as a vertical track 1160.

A plurality of securing devices 1120 are positioned adjacent to thevertical tracks 1160 and attach the vertical strands 120 to panel 1110.The securing devices 1120 may be any commonly known attachment means. Inthe embodiment shown, securing device 120 employs holes 1121 and bands1123. Bands 123 can be a tie wrap, commonly known as a zip tie, whichpasses through the holes 1121 and over the vertical strands 120 tosecure the vertical strands 120 to panel 1110. Securing devices 1120 mayalso be wire, wire wraps, snaps, hooks, clips, hook-and-loop attachmentmeans, rubber straps, rubber bands or any currently known attachmentdevices.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 2. Here theupper row 1130 and lower row 1140 of protrusions are shown defining thetransverse track 1190 near the top portion 1111 of panel 1110. Thetransverse strand 110 is shown wrapped around transverse track 1190.

Vertical strands 120 to hang and lay between holes 1121 of the securingdevices 1120. Bands 1123 pass through holes 1121 and around the verticalstrands 120 securing them to panel 1110.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention. Panel 1110 has the upper row 1130 of protrusions 1131 and thelower row 1140 of protrusions 1141 defining the transverse track 1190 asin the previous embodiment.

However, securing devices 1120 are now a plurality of vertical rowprotrusions 1125 connected to panel 1110 to define the vertical tracks1160. These vertical protrusions 1125 act to hold, and prevent tanglingof vertical strands 120.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4. In thisfigure we are able to better see the vertical strands 120 hanging in thevertical tracks 1160 between vertical row protrusions 1125.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention. Since vertical strands 120 have various lengths, when thetransverse strand 110 is wrapped around the storage device 1000, therewill be many vertical strands in the vertical track 1160 near the topportion 1111 and fewer as one moves down vertical track 1160 toward thebottom portion 1115.

Therefore, vertical impressions 1260 may be employed shown by the dottedlines. These vertical impressions 1260 allow for the vertical strands120 to lie within the impression, effectively acting as a reservoir forthe many strands that congregate while the transverse strand 110 isbeing wrapped around the panel 1110 in the transverse track 1190.Therefore, panel 1110 is created with vertical impressions 1260 whichare wider and deeper near the top portion 1111 as compared with thebottom portion 1115. The greater depth is needed to handle greaterstrand density near the top due to the varying lengths of the verticalstrands 120.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 along thelines marked “VII” in FIG. 6. Here the upper portion 1111 of panel 1110is curved into vertical impressions 1260 on alternating sides of panel1110.

Protrusions 1125 are shown in this cross section. Vertical impressions1260 are shown extending from both sides of panel 1110. This allows formore compact storage of the decorative lights.

These vertical impressions 1260 may diminish as they move toward thelower portion 1115 and flatten into a flat surface as show in phantom inthis figure.

Any of the above embodiments may be employed with other types ofprotrusions for rows 1130 and 1140 instead of the ‘peg-like’ protrusionsshown.

The invention also may be embodied with a single row of protrusions,either being rows 1130 or 1140 instead of two rows.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, one or more formed guides 1300 are usedhaving extended portions 1350 with a plurality of intermediate slots1350.

Above the top formed guide 1300 is a transverse track 1190 for wrappingthe transverse strands 110.

The intermediate slots are spaced to receive the vertical strands 120.The formed guides 1300 may be formed and positioned such that the slots1350 line up vertically so that they form a vertical track 1160 forvertical strands 120.

These may also be formed to have wider slots 1350 near the top withprogressively smaller slots toward the bottom to hold the verticalstrands which vary in length.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present inventionhaving several storage devices. An enclosure device 1400 includes anumber of rails 1410 located on either side of the enclosure. These areused to receive the edge of each panel 1110 as a user slides the panel1110 into the rails 1410. A number of panels 1110 may be received andstored by enclosure 1400.

Optionally, the rails may be replaced by other attachment means allowingthe panels 1110 to slide into, or be taken out of enclosure 1400.

While several presently preferred embodiments of the present novelinvention have been described in detail herein, many modifications andvariations will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. It isour intent therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the appendingclaims and not by the specific details presented by way of illustration.

1. A decorative light storage device for storing light strings having atleast one elongated transverse strand and a plurality of verticalstrands comprising: a A panel [1110] having a top portion [1111] and abottom portion [1115]; b. At least one structure defining a bottom of atransverse track [1190] in the top portion [1111] of the panel [1110]for receiving said transverse strand [120]; c. At least one structuredefining a vertical track [1160] extending toward the bottom portion[1115] for receiving at least one vertical strand [120] for storage ofthe decorative lights.
 2. The decorative light storage device of claim 1wherein the structure defining the bottom of the transverse track isconstructed from protrusions [1141].
 3. The decorative light storagedevice of claim 1 wherein the structure defining the vertical track[1160] is constructed from vertical protrusions [1125].
 4. Thedecorative light storage device of claim 1 wherein the vertical strands[1120] are secured to panel [1110] with bands [1123] through holes[1121].
 5. The decorative light storage device of claim 1 furthercomprising a plurality of protrusions [1131] along the top of thetransverse track [1190] to further secure the transverse strands [110].6. The decorative light storage device of claim 1 wherein the verticaltracks are impressions in the panel [1110].
 7. The decorative lightstorage device of claim 6 wherein the vertical tracks are wider near thetop portion [1111], as compared with the bottom portion [1115].
 8. Thedecorative light storage device of claim 1 wherein the structuredefining the bottom of the transverse track is constructed from a formedguide [1300].
 9. The decorative light storage device of claim 1 whereinthe structure defining the vertical track [1160] is a plurality offormed guides [1300] each having a plurality of extensions [1340] and aplurality of intervening slots [1350] which line up vertically to formvertical tracks [1360].
 10. A decorative light storage system having anenclosure device [1400] with a plurality of rails [1410], each of therails capable of storing a decorative light storage device for storinglight strings having at least one elongated transverse strand and aplurality of vertical strands comprising: a A panel [1110] having a topportion [1111] and a bottom portion [1115]; b. At least one structuredefining a bottom of a transverse track [1190] in the top portion [1111]of the panel [1110] for receiving said transverse strand [120]; c. Atleast one structure defining a vertical track [1160] extending towardthe bottom portion [ 115] for receiving at least one vertical strand[120] for storage of the decorative lights.
 11. The decorative lightstorage system of claim 10 wherein the structure defining the bottom ofthe transverse track is constructed from protrusions [1141].
 12. Thedecorative light storage system of claim 10 wherein the structuredefining the vertical track [1160] is constructed from verticalprotrusions [1125].
 13. The decorative light storage system of claim 10wherein the vertical strands [1120] are secured to panel [1110] withbands [1123] through holes [1121].
 14. The decorative light storagesystem of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of protrusions [1131]along the top of the transverse track [1190] to further secure thetransverse strands [110].
 15. The decorative light storage system ofclaim 10 wherein the vertical tracks are impressions in the panel[1110].
 16. The decorative light storage system of claim 15 wherein thevertical tracks are wider near the top portion [1111], as compared withthe bottom portion [1115].
 17. The decorative light storage system ofclaim 10 wherein the structure defining the bottom of the transversetrack is constructed from a formed guide [1300].
 18. The decorativelight storage system of claim 10 wherein the structure defining thevertical track [1160] is a plurality of formed guides [1300] each havinga plurality of extensions [1340] and a plurality of intervening slots[1350] which line up vertically to form vertical tracks [1360].